Abu Dhabi GP: Force India Can Be Proud of Its Season

Force India heads to the final race weekend of the 2009 season, at the Yas Marina circuit with its oversized and pharaonic facilities, with a sense of accomplishment. Force India has surpassed all its expectations this year, despite several missed opportunities, notably in Brazil or Japan. A regular second place at Spa is a result that went well beyond their hopes. The team had never scored points before this season.

Vijay Mallya expresses great pride in his team’s accomplishments but clearly wants to continue this momentum. The immediate goal for this race is to secure ninth place in the constructors’ championship against Toro Rosso. The future objective is to climb higher in the hierarchy and establish a strong presence among teams regularly earning points. Despite limited resources, with Force India having the smallest budget in the F1 lineup, the team progresses methodically and improves each year. Force India will continue to be powered by Mercedes-Benz next season, and the VJM02 provides a solid foundation for designing the next race car. Let’s hope Force India achieves its goals.

Adrian Sutil – Racing Driver:

« The infrastructures at Yas Marina seem very luxurious; it will be a rather pleasant working environment for the team. However, I don’t think the track will be really complicated. It has a long straight, but there are also many second-gear turns, which might not suit us. The good thing is that everyone starts on an equal footing, so there could be surprises. When preparing for a new event, the first step is always to look at the track map and the expected weather conditions. Is there anything that seems different or difficult concerning the curves, is there something you need to prepare physically for? I will talk to my engineers about what they expect in terms of settings, then the next step is to bring everything together in the simulator. This gives a head start since you can establish a basic setup and use it as a starting point for testing. You also know what to expect when you get to the track.»

Vitantonio Liuzzi – Racing Driver:

We really want points, it’s important for the team and for myself. We will give 100% until the end, in practice, qualifying, and in the race. We have done a few laps of Yas Marina in the simulator and the facilities seem incredible. The track seems very interesting and could suit the VJM02 as there are few long straights and a tricky middle section. It’s also very nice to visit new locations, so I am looking forward to participating in this race.

Vijay Mallya – Team Principal:

The Brazil Grand Prix was a missed opportunity to score points. Adrian was in a good position to earn some points, perhaps even a podium, but it was not to be. However, the aerodynamic setup in Abu Dhabi is quite similar to those in Brazil and Valencia, and even though we can’t expect rain, we can anticipate a reasonable level of performance in qualifying that should put us in a good position for the race. We could technically climb one place in the championship since we are only 13 points behind Renault, but it will be difficult, so we need to consolidate what we already have. Toro Rosso has looked very strong in the last few races, so it’s a matter of personal pride to keep them behind. Having new events on the calendar is refreshing for the championship and opens the sport to new markets. I’ve heard that the venue is absolutely fantastic, so it will set new standards for Formula One. This is also very important for keeping the sport evolving, looking to make improvements in circuit facilities, spectator opportunities, and the full race experience. For Force India, it will be a special event because there is a large number of Indian expatriates, which always gives us a little extra boost.